Durban - As the 21st International AIDS Conference enters its third day, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 20 July 2016, host Bill Gates for a courtesy call at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban. Bill Gates is one of the global funders including funding for the South African HIV programme.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is leading the South African Government delegation to the Conference in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) and is supported by the Inter-Ministerial Committee under the leadership of Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe.

During the Conference, Deputy President Ramaphosa paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General Ban ki Moon and engaged young women in dialogue on HIV prevention including delivery of the opening address during the official opening session of the 21st International AIDS Conference held on Monday 18 July 2016.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will on Wednesday 20 July 2016 also pay a visit to the South African Government Exhibition Centre officially opened on Tuesday 20 July and which houses a number of organisations involved in efforts aimed at combatting the HIV epidemic.

The South African Government delegation utilised the conference to communicate to the international community progress thus far made in pushing back the frontiers of the HIV and TB epidemic and thus improve the life-expectancy of millions of South Africans. In the same breadth the government delegation also conveyed its gratitude to the international community for the solidarity and financial support in its efforts to combat the HIV and TB epidemic.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria